Noun

Singular unrequited love

Plural uncountable

unrequited love (uncountable)

  1. Love that is not reciprocated, even though reciprocation is desired.
    • 1912, Eleanor H. Porter, Miss Billy's Decision, ch. 27,
      To her mind, a girl who would tell of the unrequited love of a man for herself, was unspeakably base.

From Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fri Feb 19 08:00:41 2010

Unrequited love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections. The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines unrequited as; "not reciprocated or returned in kind."

History

Unrequited love has a long cultural history. The 1st century BC Roman poet Catullus wrote about his unrequited love for Lesbia in several of his Carmina. Abraham Cowley wrote of the emotion (in "Anacreontiques: Or, Some Copies of Verses Translated Paraphrastically out of Anacreon"):

"A mighty pain to love it is,
And 'tis a pain that pain to miss;
But of all pains, the greatest pain
It is to love, but love in vain."

Robert Burns' poem "Anna, Thy Charms" catches it succinctly:

"Anna, thy charms my bosom fire,
And waste my soul with care;
But ah! how bootless to admire,
When fated to despair!
Yet in thy presence, lovely Fair,
To hope may be forgiven;
For sure 'twere impious to despair
So much in sight of heaven."

Alfred Edward Housman wrote a poem inspired by his life-long unrequited love for his best friend Moses Jackson:

"He would not stay for me, and who can wonder?
He would not stay for me to stand and gaze.
I shook his hand and tore my heart in sunder
And went with half my life about my ways."

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Mon Feb 22 03:17:39 2010

How can unrequited love spoil the taste of peanut butter?
Q. 'Noting spoils the taste of peanut butter than unrequited love' - Charlie Brown thank you for your answers.
Asked by maej - Mon Apr 21 00:37:03 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Love completely messes up your senses.
Answered by HGC_915 - Mon Apr 21 18:23:58 2008

Unrequited Love: Good topic for college essay?
Q. I have to write a 250 word essay on who is an influential person in my life who has contributed to my personal development. Honestly, I can think of only one person, and that is the girl I have like for the past three years. She's definitely influenced/changed me a LOT, but I feel like if I write about being in unrequited love with her, I make myself seem vulnerable. Especially since she is also applying to the same college. Obviously, I would have to change the name, but is it a good idea?
Asked by C&O - Fri Nov 21 22:18:16 2008 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. This is a good topic as long as you make sure it reveals what you want it to reveal about you--i.e. the good qualities. So I would say if, when reading, and with other people reading and giving you opinions of course, if it makes you seem vulnerable as opposed to it bringing out your true self or it making you a stronger person or it making you realize your goal in kife or it highlighting your compassionate, caring, determined characteristics, etc...THEN you would have to ditch it ( I would strongly reccomend against just straight up inventing a story, but switching a few facts honestly doesn't hurt. I actually did that for my main college essay, or common app essay, and I just got into Wisconsin today actually so the point is it didn't… [cont.]
Answered by yeeNYC - Fri Nov 21 22:45:51 2008

Do you know a romance book with unrequited love?
Q. Like in Gone With the Wind where the heroine is in love with this man but he rejects her, then later she meets another man who is the true love of her life. Do you know a book similar to this? I'm a huge fan of Gone With the Wind.
Asked by S. - Sat Jan 30 14:01:11 2010 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The Notebook By Nicholas Sparks Dear John By Nicholas Sparks
Answered by I Horses - Sat Jan 30 14:16:22 2010

From Yahoo Answer Search: "unrequited love"
Sun Mar 7 11:56:24 2010

See also:

  • Travlang's I Love YouTravlang's I Love You
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    Translation of the words "I love you" into several dozen languages, from Afrikaans to Zulu.
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    Professional relationship advice on finding love, dating and romance, and ways to express love. Also includes love poems, gifts, hugs, and kisses.
  • Our Wedding ProposalOur Wedding Proposal
    ourweddingproposal.com
    Create a lasting and beautiful memory by proposing marriage in a unique and special way. Free marriage proposals and engagement proposal ideas.
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Wed Feb 17 06:34:31 2010
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